Overview of Belize

Belize is situated in the heart of Central America. This Caribbean wonder is located near the U.S., under Mexico, next to Guatemala and welcomes the waves of the Western Caribbean Sea.

Anonymity is part of Belize's charm. Only a small portion of the world's tourist population have been to Belize; which has kept Belize's Mayan ruins, pristine rain forest and the Belize Barrier Reef "unspoiled" for all to enjoy.

Geography

The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attractions in Belize. The barrier reef is 185 miles long. The cayes are coral sand and/or mangroves islands, that are located between the mainland and the barrier reef, on the barrier reef, and on or within the reef perimeters of the offshore atolls.

Although the mangrove cayes are normally uninhabitable by humans, they do provide a superior habitat for birds and marine life. Many birds, fish, shellfish, and marine organisms begin their lives within the protection of the mangrove.

The coral cayes, which are distinguishable by their palm trees, have provided the foundation for the development of many fine resorts to serve the water sports enthusiasts and the marine naturalists. The cayes and atolls provide superior opportunity for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating, sailing, sailboarding, and sea kayaking, as well as a habitat for nesting birds and turtles.

The Northern half of the mainland of Belize is a plain that was once the bed of a sea. The land is covered with a thin layer of soil, that supports scrub vegetation and dense hardwood tropical forest. The Northern coastal area is neither land nor sea, but a lagoonal, marshy transition between the two. The coastal vegetation consists of mangrove and grasses, and lagoons are bordered by tussock grasses, cypress, and sycamore.

The central part of Belize consists of sandy soil that supports large savannas. Approximately thirty miles Southwest of Belize City, the land begins to rise dramatically to between 1,500 and 3,680 feet above sea level in the enchanting Mountain Pine Ridge region and the Maya Mountains. Abundant rainfall runs off the highlands which flow into the Macal River.

The Southern part of Belize consists of short rivers that rush through foothills combed with overhanging ledges and caves. The watersheds have also built some of the finest beaches in Belize at the coastal villages of Hopkins and Placencia. Southern Belize has a true tropical rain forest that is rich with ferns, palms, lianas, and tropical hardwoods.

Climate

The climate is subtropical, with brisk prevailing tradewinds from the Caribbean Sea. The country has an annual mean temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity, while high, is nicely tempered by the sea breezes.